There’s over a hundred restaurants in Metro Manila that serve fusion cuisine. About half or more may have similar things on the menu, and at least a dozen of them are being run by chefs who have trained at prestigious dining establishments. Ninyo Fusion Cuisine and Wine Lounge in Katipunan, Quezon City is all of these things, but it’s also pretty different. And more importantly, it’s really, really good.

Starting out as one of “Manila’s Best Kep Restaurant Secrets,” Ninyo has now become a gem of a dining haven for people looking to escape into a cozy, intimate, and relaxing setting. It’s popular as a venue where momentous occasions (such as marriage proposals and birthdays) are being held. Louie and I celebrated our seventh-year anniversary here last May 1 (Labor Day). He made a reservation a week before and got us seats in the al fresco setting, which is absolutely perfect for a romantic date. 🙂

If you’re expecting ornamental embroidery, wooden chandeliers, minimalist-looking table lamps and rose petals scattered beautifully everywhere, there’s definitely something for you in Ninyo Fusion Cuisine and Wine Lounge. The environment looks very homey, and this is mainly because Ninyowas the Laus’ family’s 50-year-old house that was transformed into a restaurant in 2006 in fulfillment of Chef Nino’s lifelong dream of having a restaurant he can call his own.

At Ninyo, you can enjoy the garden view at the al fresco area or stay cozy indoors in the first or second floor. This reminded me most of The Sugar Palm in Siem Reap, Cambodia. Both give an impression of a secret garden with an inviting appeal.

My eyes feasted on the charming setup of candlelight dinner served in the private gazebos, with rocks, plants, and wooden accents on the side. Waterfalls, the fountain, and the koi fish pond are creative additions that make a tranquil space. Light music was played in the background to enhance the mood. It’s summer now in the Philippines but it’s nice that weather that night wasn’t too sweltering hot.

Also part of the scenery are the love locks displayed at the front part of the garden. Several couples have immortalized their love with their names written on the padlocks. It’s cheesy and adorable. Love it! 🙂

Service:

The wait staff was warm, attentive, and receptive. He offered wonderful yet simple service and took care of requests with ease. I liked that the dishes were served in a relaxed pace but not frustratingly slow, just so we could have enough time to talk and enjoy the night while eating. Complimentary warm bread with butter was served at the start of the meal and in between, we were also surprised with a free spoonful of calamansi sorbet to cleanse our palate.

Food:

Chef Laus’ dishes are often described as inventive, adventurous, and unpredictable. He never ceases to surprise and amaze his guests with something new or unusual all the time. Food here is essentially fusion, with a heavy emphasis on Japanese and European influences. Marrying the culinary traditions of two countries that are thousands of miles apart and then offering a fresh twist to the dishes make Ninyo truly remarkable.

We started dinner with a delicious appetizer: Salmon Belly Wasabi Tempura Roll (PhP 395). It takes a lot to impress with us with salmon, but this did the trick. It was filled with pleasant surprises with textures of all kinds! Stuffed with braised gobo and carrots, the bite-size tempura rolls were a flavor bomb of soft salmon with crispy Japanese Burdock roots. I thought wasabi on the wrap of the roll was supposed to make it spicy, but the spiciness was not felt apparent at all. In any case, I’m a fan.

For our main course, the Grilled Chicken Balsamic Teriyaki (PhP 450) served with grilled Japanese rice, grilled leeks with miso, tomatoes and onion was spot on. The balsamic vinegar gave the tender chicken a great depth of tang and sweetness without being too sweet, while the shiny teriyaki glaze brought a good balance of barbecue sauce and soy sauce with sweet and salty flavors. You can’t go wrong.

Pasta Alle Vongole (PhP 420) was sublimely simple. It consisted of linguine pasta with Manila clams sautéed in garlic and chorizo deglazed with sake. The silky noodles were coated in briny, garlicky flavor from the sauce and studded with tender morsels of the clam itself. The portion is good for sharing.

When asked what’s the most recommended dessert, the waiter suggested Chocolate! Chocolate! Cake (PhP 295) and Mango Pavlova (PhP 245). We got the latter. It was a meringue dessert, crispy on the outside but light and fluffy inside, topped with vanilla ice cream and fresh mango slices. I went to the restroom before the plate landed on the table, so I was surprised that it had a greeting on it. Thank you very much, Louie! 🙂

Price for Value:

Looking for a fancy date spot in Quezon City? Ninyo Fusion Cuisine and Wine Lounge won’t disappoint. This is the place to be, if you want to try a mix of Asian and European cuisine. Prices may be quite a splurge, but food came out awesome, and ambiance and service were exemplary. I promise it will be worth it. Double or group dating with a bunch of friends is not a bad idea either. 😉

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46 Responses

I love the view from the outdoor table! The sound of the waterfall and private gazebo would be so romantic — especially with the rose petals! The Love Locks are so cool, too! How neat to see a visual representation of all of the couples who’ve professed their love there. And the food sure looks delicious!

Oh wow! The Ninyo Fusion Cuisine and Wine Lounge in Katipunan, Queen City looks like a great destination for a date night! I would love to enjoy the outdoor table. That dessert looks amazing! Thanks for sharing!

The Ninyo Fusion Cuisine and Wine Lounge in Katipunan, Queen City looks like a classy and elegant place to eat. Looks like you had a fabulous celebration. The food is so pretty, too. I almost wouldn’t want to eat it.

The E. Abada St. has a lot of secret spots. I remember that’s the street where Gayuma ni Maria was located. The place is really romantic, looks really private. If we have something to celebrate, my husband and I will consider this place.

From the romantic atmosphere to the cheerful people to the beautiful plates, this place screams amazing! It’s one of the best restaurants we tried in QC and undoubtedly some of the best fusion food that I’ve had to date.

This post made me hungry! The Ninyo Fusion Cuisine and Wine Lounge in Katipunan, Queen City looks like a real hot spot for a night out. Your thorough description of your dining experience painted a wonderful picture of what to expect! If my travels ever take me there, I will try this restaurant for sure!

Looks like place worth trying. The food looks really delicious and the design of the place definitely contributes to the ambience. I particularly would like to try the chicken balsamic teriyaki. I can just imagine the combination of balsamic with teriyaki and my mouth is really watering now. I think this place is definitely worth a try!

This entire place looks fantastic, but the outdoor tables were my favorite. The food sounds delicious and the Mango Pavlova looks amazing, although I don’t know if I would have chosen it over the chocolate dessert.

If you’re a heavy eater, you might have to order more. For us who are fond of sharing food even when they’re served in not so generous portions, as long as the tastes are satisfying and commendable, this is a hit spot.

The places looks amazing, I love the decor both inside and out. It’s good to know that the service is great, they are expected to be good since this is a fancy restaurant. I love how they plate the food as well, it looks appetizing, especially that mango pavlova! Happy Anniversary to you guys!

Hi! I would just like to ask, since I think it’s not air-conditioned, is the temperature of the place cool enough? I am planning to surprise my parents for their anniversary this August, and I think this place is a perfect go-to. Thank you!

Food and Lifestyle Blogger in Manila

Roch Santos-Sioco is behind the blog Rochkirstin | com. Based in Manila, Philippines, she's a digital marketing strategist by day (and sometimes by night, let's get real) and a blogger with a large appetite for food & travel. She always aims to create content that's meaningful and enjoyable, whether it's a full-length blog post or a 140-character tweet.

When not blogging or eating, you can find her thinking about innovative technologies, planning out where to eat or travel next, or looking up on trends about health, pets, and wine. :)

Get in touch with her through rochkirstin@yahoo.com or view the About page to know more.

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